“Print the Legend” tells the story of the biggest, little companies in 3D printing

3D printing is on a roll. Led by new firms as MakerBot and FormLabs and reputable companies like Stratasys and 3D Systems, the next industrial revolution has well and truly rooted in the past two years with the advent of affordable desktop systems and more public awareness of the potential of technology. This year at SXSW, the producers of The King of Kong and Freakonomics have premiered Print the Legend, a documentary focused on the rapidly expanding world of additive manufacturing and 3D printing.

Print the legend tells the story of Bre Pettis, CEO of MakerBot and other 3D printing … Cody Wilson made his rise to fame with 3D printers as the first person to 3D print a gunLuis Lopez and Clay Tweel directed Print the Legend, a documentary on 3D printingThe FormLabs team, which had an early success with Kickstarter, tells his story in print … View all
Gizmag spoke with principals, Clay Tweel and Luis Lopez, and one of the producers, Steven Klein, about the making of the film.

The trio see what they refer to as a “Macintosh Moment” in the advent of 3D printing. “Our producers, Chad Troutwine, Walter Kortschak, Dan O’Meara, and Rafi Chaudry approached our team to make a movie about Apple and Steve Jobs” explain. “We proposed that we try to find the next Steve Jobs as a way to examine the archetype created around this legendary entrepreneur.” This was the same time as Bre Pettis, CEO of MakerBot, appeared on the cover of Wired, so the inspiration was properly stimulated.

When it came to the creation of documentaries, the team was seasoned, but had never attempted a film or companies. “Every part in the film had a strong interest in controlling the narrative” they explain. “We coordinate all equipment remotely talented shooters, conducted interviews via Skype, and basically use all possible means to maximize our reach.”

The resulting film premiered on Sunday, March 9 at SXSW, and will play all week. Although the film focuses on the growth of 3D printing, the team found themselves delving into the structures and consequences of capitalism. “A core of the film explores the personal struggles involved in the growth of any business,” says the trio. “Our goal is to present such a universal history as possible, so he tried to draw the arc of the film to reflect the challenges facing anyone trying to turn your idea driven passion into a sustainable business.”

Lopez, Tweel and Klein recorded that are not experts in 3D printing, but can now ship educated opinions about technology. “Everyone on our team has become a believer in the potential of 3D printing addition to printing plastic -. Whatever allow itself interesting things – the ability to bio-printing and printing metal seems likely have a great impact on our lives in the not too distant future.

“In our amateur opinion, we think there are three basic reasons for the rise of 3D printing. Firstly, it is simply the case that these machines are often too big and too expensive for people every day, and just industrial manufacturers did not see that normal people would have an interest in technology if they became smaller / cheaper. way, the entry barrier is down. Secondly, now that the consumer versions and large scale competition are forcing innovation, we will have access to housing to higher and higher quality printers. And thirdly, people are much better at telling the story of 3D printing and inspiring potential, and probably no single more responsible for Bre Pettis of MakerBot group and team. ”

As filmmakers, the team tried to look at the different paths taken by early success stories of 3D printing. On the one hand, MakerBot, which started open source and is now owned by one of the largest manufacturers of 3D printing. Furthermore, FormLabs, who struggled to keep up with demand after releasing one of the most successful Kickstarter campaigns to date. “For us, the important thing is that Bre and MakerBot staff faced a very difficult question to decide whether to remain radically open or having to close some things. People have strong feelings about their decision, but we hope that the film presents the simple truth that there is no easy answer. ”

The growing popularity of 3D printing has seen some question the potential of this technology, and whether or not it is just hype. “We can see already that professionals are benefiting from a lower barrier to 3D printing and this will lead to more iteration of new products and ideas,” they say.

The film brings the revolutionary potential and dangers of 3D printing to the forefront when talking to the major players in the industry, as well as disrupting Cody Wilson Distributed Defense. “Overall, we do believe that there is revolutionary potential here, but it may not happen as soon as some people say and – of great interest to us – we believe it is important to remember that the first Industrial Revolution – in addition to its positive effects – caused disorder and massive social unrest, poverty, increasing violence, and the draining of natural resources at an unprecedented scale. ”

Filmmakers, like most of the audience, feel a growing excitement about where this technology is headed. “We’ve all been nerdily excited by the vision of 3D printers allows building on other planets and moons, allowing construction without the need to send raw materials.” The film aims to address some of the most difficult questions of the printing industry in 3D, and maybe the answers first.